Mumbai doctors have successfully treated an elderly man who inhaled a dental cap during a routine procedure but did not realise until it turned critical.
It all started when the patient, a 78-year-old resident of Mumbai, had gone for a simple cap fitting, a routine procedure that unexpectedly turned into a life-threatening emergency. During the process, the dental cap suddenly slipped and was accidentally inhaled, finding its way into his windpipe. With his throat numb from local anesthesia (Lignocaine spray), he felt no immediate discomfort, unaware that the tiny metallic cap had traveled deep into his airway.
All that followed was a frightening turn of events. As he began feeling uneasy, a CT scan revealed the shocking truth: the dental cap was lodged inside his right main bronchus, dangerously close to obstructing his breathing. Realising the gravity of the situation, the patient and his dentist rushed to Zen Multispeciality Hospital in Chembur, where a team of experts promptly intervened to prevent what could have become a critical emergency. Upon arrival at the hospital, the medical team immediately prepared for an emergency bronchoscopy.
Dr Abhijit Ahuja, interventional pulmonologist and chest medicine specialist, said, “The patient came to us with a dental cap lodged in his right main bronchus, which is one of the major airways supplying the lung. We immediately assembled our team, comprising anesthetists and endoscopy technicians, and performed a flexible bronchoscopy under local anesthesia with mild sedation. Under local anesthesia and mild sedation, the flexible bronchoscope, a thin tube with a camera at its tip, was carefully inserted through the patient’s airway, allowing direct visualisation of the lodged dental cap. With the help of endoscopic forceps, we successfully removed the object in under 10 minutes without the need for any surgical incision. The procedure was swift and safe to retrieve the metallic dental cap within ten minutes. Since there was no lung injury or infection, the patient made a full recovery and was discharged the next day. Early recognition and prompt intervention were key to ensuring a safe outcome in this case.”
Dr Ahuja further added, “Such incidents, though uncommon, are well-documented in medical literature. During dental procedures, especially when local anesthesia is used, the throat’s protective reflexes are suppressed. This can occasionally lead to accidental aspiration of small objects if they fall backward. It highlights the importance of awareness among both patients and dental practitioners to act quickly and seek medical help if any accidental aspiration is suspected. Sometimes, foreign bodies remain unnoticed in the lungs for months or even years, eventually leading to recurrent infections or pneumonia. Hence, no incident of foreign body aspiration should ever be ignored, no matter how minor it may seem.”
“I was shocked when I learned that my dental cap had gone into my right lung. I didn’t even realise it when it happened. The dentist immediately advised me to get a CT scan, and we rushed to Zen Hospital. The doctors there explained everything clearly and performed the procedure so quickly that I didn’t feel any pain. I’m deeply grateful to the team of doctors for their expertise and care. I feel completely fine now,” said the relieved patient.
